The long-awaited 2023 James Beard Award took place on June 5th. The ceremony honors for American hospitality by celebrating a wide pool of diverse and skilled chefs, beverage directors, restaurateurs, and other talented people from across the US.
These awards are equivalent to the Oscars of the culinary world and are widely deemed prestigious.
So you can imagine the delight when Sherry Pocknett, an Indigenous female chef, bagged the Best Chef award.
The win marked the first of its kind and was fantastic news for the entire Native American community.
Sherry is from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and opened a restaurant in the name of her later father, Sly Fox Den.
Sherry opened another branch of the restaurant in Charlestown, Rhode Island, called Sly Fox Den Too.
Her menu includes Native American food, such as scrumptious clambakes and corncakes.
She offers custom catering services at Sly Fox Den, which is more than just a restaurant and bar; it is also a cultural hub that educates the general public regarding Native American food, history, and culture.